Sligo County Council employs in excess of 450 staff and is one of the largest employers in the North West.
The main areas of activity in the Section are:
Staff Recruitment
Sligo County Council deals with recruitment both for the Council and for Sligo Borough Council. Recruitment is strictly on merit with independent interview boards appointed by the County Manager to recommend the most suitable candidates for employment/promotion in accordance with the various particulars and conditions of employment which apply to the grades concerned. In 2001, Sligo County Council held 93 different interviews with 719 candidates being interviewed. These included interviews arising out of the Government’s Programme of Local Government Reform.
Industrial Relations
Sligo County Council works with Unions and staff representatives to achieve good working relationships to reconcile conflicting demands with the minimum of conflict. It involves implementation of agreements on pay and conditions of employment, processing of Union Claims, preparation of cases for the Labour Court and Labour Relations Commission and improved working conditions for staff.
Staff Training
The Council is committed to the training and development of all its employees.
Training and development can take the form of
Over the past number of years many staff members have undertaken the Certificate course in Local Government Studies run in conjunction with the Institute of Public Administration. To date 92 staff members have successfully completed the course and a further 11 are studying the current course. Two staff members have successfully completed the Higher Certificate course with a further five staff currently undertaking it.
One hundred and fifty staff members have completed or are completing the European Computer Drivers Licence course (E.C.D.L). It is expected that a further 50 staff will commence European Computer Drivers Licence training in 2002.
The Institute of Public Administration has been commissioned by the Local Government Management Services board to carry out a Training and Development Needs Analysis in Local Government. The Council along with three other local authorities has been selected as a pilot site to carry out the initial analysis. Out of this a template for staff training and development into the future will be developed.
Equality and Family Friendly Policies
An Equal Opportunity Policy is in place which gives the Council’s commitment to treat and develop all its employees equally, irrespective of sex, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, colour, race, nationality or membership of the travelling community.
The Council continues to assist staff members in making available to them opportunities for Job-Sharing arrangements, Career Breaks, Special Leave, etc.
Policy Training Programme for Members
The first Phase of the training programme consisted of policy focused seminars for Strategic Policy Committee Chairs. The second phase, which has already commenced, involves a series of intensive one-day seminars for all Councillors devoted to four key local government policy issues, housing, planning, environment and roads. The first of these seminars dealing with housing policy was completed during the summer of 2001. The panel of speakers was drawn from a pool of experienced local authority officials and elected members along with officials from the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Staff receiving their ECDL certificates in County Hall. Included in the front row are Cyril McNamara, Human Resources, Ann Thornton, Course Instructor, Cllr. Tony McLoughlin, Cathaoirleach and Joe Murphy, Human Resources. Sligo County Council employs in excess of 450 staff and is one of the largest employers in the North West.